News
 

Meetings will address campus crimes

'Any crime on campus is one too many,' student government president says

By Geronimo Rodriguez
Senior Staff Writer

Although a UH police lieutenant said in Tuesday's Daily Cougar that a recent rash of robberies does not indicate a crime problem at the University, Student Government Association President Jon Quintanilla said that "any crime on campus is one too many.

"Relative to other urban institutions, this university has a low amount of crime, but we still need to address this issue and develop ways to prevent them," Quintanilla said.

The string of muggings on campus began March 27. Two 19-year-old suspects -- Patrick Foster and Anthony Mareno -- are being held by police in connection with the two robberies and an attempted robbery, all at the point of a shotgun.

SGA Law Sen. Bobby Warren said students concerned with crime on campus should attend Wednesday's SGA Senate meeting to "get the ball rolling" in efforts to make the campus more secure.

The meeting will be held at 7:30 p.m. in the Campus Activities Large Conference Room.

The Senate will also hold a town hall meeting in May with regard to tuition deregulation and campus security, Quintanilla said. He said he will ask UH Police Chief Robert Wilson to be on hand to field students' questions about crime on campus.

Quintanilla said he has already discussed placing cameras in areas of the campus more susceptible to crime with Wilson and Associate Vice President for Plant Operations David Irvin.

"Whenever a new building is being constructed or (UH officials) talk about moving something to a certain part of campus, the question I continue to ask is if we have the money to include cameras in those areas," Quintanilla said. "Not only can we use them to catch people, but we can prevent crimes from happening as well.

"As we get more technology-savvy, I think students will start seeing more cameras around the University," he said.

Warren, whose roommate was mugged at shotgun point March 27 in Parking Lot 18A, said he believes more cameras might be useful in stopping criminals more quickly.

"When my roommate was mugged, they didn't have any idea of who to go after. All they had was the sketch he had given them," Warren said. "I think cameras would've made it easier to identify the suspects."

In the meantime, Quintanilla said students should use good judgment in avoiding dangerous situations and should take advantage of the UH Police Department's free 24-hour campus escort service, available by calling (713) 743-0600.
 

 Send comments to dcnews@mail.uh.edu